BCLC: Castlegar Couple Finally Claim Lotto 6/49 Jackpot

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Feb. 4, 2011) - A winning lottery ticket worth $3.02 Million has finally been claimed by a Castlegar couple.

Bela and Sandra Fesus appeared in BCLC's Kamloops office today, ending weeks of speculation as to who in the small West Kootenay community held the winning ticket from the December 29 Lotto 6/49 draw.

"We had heard about a winning ticket sold in Castlegar but didn't realize it was us," said Sandra. It wasn't until yesterday, when she stopped at Shoppers Drug Mart on Columbia Avenue in Castlegar to check her ticket that she realized they had in fact won.

"The clerk's eyes got huge and she told me I'd matched all six numbers to win the three million dollar jackpot. I had to go sit down."

Somehow the 45-year-old cook drove home and phoned her husband, Bela.

"She was yelling on the phone and I couldn't understand what she was saying," said the 47-year-old electrician. "Once she calmed down and told me I couldn't believe it. I don't think we've slept a wink since."

The lucky couple plan to pay off their mortgage and "invest the rest".

Lotto 6/49 is the nationwide lottery game drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays after 6 p.m. (PST). Players can purchase tickets at any lottery retailer or at PlayNow.com.